Process and device for separation of the elements composing a gaseous mixture by means of centrifugal action.



E. MAZZA.

PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR SEPARATION OF THE ELEMENTS COMPOSING A GASEOUS MIXTURE BY MEANS OF CENTRIFUGAL ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29 I911.

Patented May 4, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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' E. MAZZAl PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR SEPARATION OF THE ELEMENTS COMPOSING A GASEOUS MIXTURE BY MEANS OF CENTR'IFUGAL ACTION. APPLICATION FILED MAY 29,1911.

1 #137,?7%. Patented May 4, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- method and means fore been used mixtures as above pnrrnn sT'rEs PA ENT mic I 'EDOARDO mazza, or 111mm, ITALY;

rnocnssnnn nnvrcn ron SEPARATION on THE ELEMENTS COMIOSING- A GASEOUS MIXTURE BY MEANS or CENTRIFUGAL' ACTION.

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present 'nvention relates to the partial separation of the constituent elements of mixtures of gases, vapors, or both. The separation is effected by centrifugal action induced by causing the mixture to be separated to assume a rapidarcuate or circular movement, thus causing the COII1-' ponents of the mixture to separate into layers more or less distinct, depending upon the density of the components. In this manner the layers are formed and are then separated from one another and, collected, if desired. Centrifugal action has heretoby' me for separatingsuch v described, but the means for inducing such action consisted of a rapidly rotating drum in which were formed spiral passages through which the mixture to be separated was caused tomove under the action of a suction or pressure efl'ect caused the mechanical work of rotation ofthe drum. In some cases where the difference in density of'the components of the mixture is very small, it would be necessary to give such acentrifugal drum such high peripheral speed as I the resistance of the materials of which I enable the separation such drum is made, and from a practical oint of view becomes impossible.

The object of the present invention is to by centrifugal action of the constituents of gas or vapor mixtures, or both, of any kind, whether they differ but slightly in density or not.

In the present invention the rotating or centrifugal action on the gaseous mixture is not obtained by a movable mechanical device but by driving'the gas mixture through Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 29, 1911. Serial No. ($30,153.

for the separation or to be incompatible with 1 Patented May 4, 19 15.

circular or arcuate channels of stationary separating elements. If the speed with which the gas mixture passes through or along such circular channels is sufliciently hlgh, the centrifugal force acting upon it, produced by the circular path of the mixture, will provoke the separation into layers according to the density of the constituents. Now as the speed of the gas mixture through or along the circular channels depends upon the area of the section of the latter and upon the pressure to which the mixture is subjected, there is nothing to prevent the attainment of the required degree of centrifu:

gal action to effect separation. The work required for the preliminary compression of the gas mixture represents the consumption of mechanical energy required for the separation. This energy is transferred into potential energy in the compressed mixture and is converted into kinetic energy during the passage of the mixture along the circular channels.

From the above it will be readily understood'that apparatus for effecting the separation in accordance with what. has been.

above stated may be given many forms.

The accompanying drawings show one of many forms of apparatus embodying my invention, and in which like parts are similarly designated.

Figure 1 is a vertical section on the, line 1*.l of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 a of Fig. 1 Fig. ,3 is a section on the line 3- is a perspectiveview of one of the arcuate or'cir'cular channels. 5 is a transverse section thereof, and Fig. 6 is-an end view of the same.

The apparatus here illustrated'comprises two substantially hemispherical tanks or calotts', 1 and 2-, provided with sockets or unions 3 and 4 that are'preferably but not necessarily the axes of the hemispherical chambers 1 and'2, respectively. The tanks 1 and 2 are provided with flat circular bottoms 5 and 6, secured thereto by bolts 7, and these bottoms are held distanced from one another by bolts 7.

The channels or separating elements .8, shown more clearly in A cured to the plate 5 of tankl and their discharge ends extend partly into the tank 2, and through plate 6, and partly into the space between the two plates 5 and 6. These of Fig. "1. Fig. 4 v

Figs. 4-6, areseseparating elements are arranged in a circle,

as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Each element 8 is rectangular in section, and consists of two concentric cylindrical walls 8 and 8 connected to flat arcuate or circular side walls1S and S". The ends of these elements preferably are at an angle of 90 to each other, so that the inlet and discharge are perpendicular to one another. The separating elements may have any other suitable shape in cross section. The separating elements are secured to plate by means of forced by screws 9 over holes 10 in said plate and corresponding in shape to the cross section of the elements. The discharge ends of theseparating elements 8 pass partially through and fit plate 6 which cuts the'outlet ports horizontally, and generally the lesser height of the outlet port discharges into tank 2, and the greaterheight between the" two plates 5 and 6. a

The mixture to be separated is forced 'in chamber 1 through the inlet 3, see arrow 11,- and thence through the separating elements 8 with a speed dependent upon its By reason of the plate 6 dividing the out-' let of the separating elements into two portions the heavier constituents enter the de-" livery chamber ;2 and pass through the union 4, as indicated by the. arrow 12, Fig. 1. 'The remaining portion of the gas passes through the lower portions of the ports between the plates 5 and 6 and will contain the lighter constituents of the mixture, or will at least be lighter than that portionof the mixture discharged into'2, v

If atmospheric air .be' the gas mixture treated, dry air containing an excess of oxygen over thenormal content of oxygen in the air treated will be dischargedinto 2, while that portion discharged between the two plates 5 and 6 may be richer in nitrogen and will contain some of the water vaporthat' constituted the humidity of the original air.

The air richer, in oxygen discharged at 4 maybe utilized for supplying blast air to metallurgical furnaces, orotherwise, while that passing between the plates and '6 may be allowed to escape into the atmosphere.

Any kind of gas mixture may be treated tight in .openings in the opposite of the mixture atthe exit 0 I I in the manner described, and by passing that portion of the mixture, that it is desired to obtain,

two or-more times through the -machine, a more complete separation will be obtained. a

In order to obtain a high degree of centrifugal action in the separator 8 the radius of curvature of these separators should be as small as possible. Their linear length should also be reduced to a minimum to maintain the frictional resistance as small as possible, as said resistances decrease the centrifugal action. However, by reducing the linear length of the elements 8, the path of the gas mixture through them will, in general, be insuflicient to permit the com plete transformation of the potential v.energy of the mixture into kinetic energy, and

to overcome this I prolong the separating elements by means of a rectangular extension '14, indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 5, downward into chamber 1 and its walls are continuations of the walls of the separating element 8, two of its walls being tangent to the walls 8 and 8 This extension is of sufficient length to permit almost the complete transformation of the potential energy of the mixture into kinetic energy.

Thereis a high backpressure at the upper layers or of the separators 8, due to centrifugal actionand indicated at X, Figs 5. and 6.

points at the discharge ends This back pressure causes a reduction of;

speed of the out-flowing gas at these points, and consequently a decrease of the separation output. To overcome this to a great extent the outlet'chamber 2 is placed under suction.

I claim I I 1. The method of separating the constituents of gas mixtures, which comprises passing. the mixture throughstationary curved channels at suflicient speed to impart centrifugal action thereto stituents therein more or less into layers, and deflecting different portions of the gas as it discharges from the channels. 7 .2. The method'of ents of a gas-mixture, which comprises supplying the compressed mixture .of fixed gases to a curvedch'annel at sufficient speed to cause centrifugal action, and deflecting separate portions of themixture at difi'ernel. I

3. The method of separatingthe constituents of a gaseous mixture, which comprises and arrange theconseparating the constitui v 'ent radial distances at the end of said ch'an- I supplying the compressed mixture to a chancausing the mixture to make a. turn ofzsmall radius at the end'of the channel with sufiicient speed to cause centrifugal action in the gases, and deflectin difl'erentportions of'the channel accordance'with their density; 7

* nel, expanding the mixture in the channel,

7 ing the mixture through a stationary channel curving through substantially ninety degrees at a speed suficient to centrifugally arrange the constituents in layers according to their density, and separating, and dis- 15 charging the separateci layers at the exit of the channel.

in testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, it have signed my name in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDUARDO -z a Witnesses:

FRANCENO GUNAM, JOoELYN GOUBEYRAN. 

